Guys, lets get something on the table. Theo and Jed made two starting pitching trades at the deadline last year, Dempster and Maholm. Both were lucrative and important to the Cubs future. Don't you think that the Cubs are envisioning doing the same again this year? If they sign Edwin Jackson, their Starting Pitchers would look like this:

That is 7 starting caliber pitchers, with many of them on short term deals that will look extremely attractive come deadline time. I think the move is genius, and makes all the send in the world. In my opinion, the Cubs are building the farm system through free agency (think Marlins, but on a smaller scale). Makes all the sense in the world to me. I am guessing the "haters" in this thread haven't really thought long term on these signings and what they will eventually mean for the Cubs.

I think the offseason has been a success, and will pay off come deadline time and for the future of the Cubs.

skrip

I like the rotation outside of wood. Hes not even close to starting caliber yet. Way too man HRS given up. I love the Jackson and Villenueva signings though. Now we need some hitters and a little bullpen help.

I like the rotation outside of wood. Hes not even close to starting caliber yet. Way too man HRS given up. I love the Jackson and Villenueva signings though. Now we need some hitters and a little bullpen help.

Wood will be in the rotation. Feldman and Villanueva have both pitched in the bullpen before so worst case they get put there. My guess is Garza for Olt happens and we flip one of the 1 yr guys at the deadline...ie Baker.

Wood will be in the rotation. Feldman and Villanueva have both pitched in the bullpen before so worst case they get put there. My guess is Garza for Olt happens and we flip one of the 1 yr guys at the deadline...ie Baker.

If theo pulls that one off(the Olt Deal) I will be that much closer to taking him off my you know what list. These two signings over the last 2 days helped.

The Cubs have agreed to sign Hisanori Takahashi to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, reports Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports (on Twitter). The veteran left-hander is a Wasserman Media Group client.

Takahashi, 37, pitched to a 5.54 ERA with 9.3 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 in 50 1/3 relief innings for the Angels and Pirates last season. He owns a 3.97 ERA in 240 1/3 MLB innings, making 12 starts and 153 relief appearances. Takahashi has held big league lefties to a .238/.283/.381 batting line with a 4.14 K/BB.

The Cubs have signed Dontrelle Willis according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter links). The left-hander officially gets an invitation to minor league Spring Training, but could get a look in big league camp if he's throwing well. The 2003 NL Rookie of the Year is a Sosnick/Cobbe client.

Willis, 31 later this month, retired from baseball back in July. He allowed eight runs in 6 1/3 innings with the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate early last season before calling it quits. Willis last appeared in the big leagues with the Reds in 2011, when he pitched to a 5.00 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 75 2/3 innings across 13 starts.

Willis started his professional career with the Cubs, who drafted him in the eighth round of the 2000 draft. Chicago traded him to the Marlins as part of the package for Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca two years later.

The Cubs have avoided arbitration with Matt Garza by agreeing to a one-year, $10.25MM deal, according to his representatives at CAA (on Twitter). The 29-year-old is set to hit the open market after the 2013 campaign.

Garza's $10.25MM salary represents a $750K from his salary last season. In 2012, Garza posted a 3.91 ERA with 8.3 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in 18 starts. The right-hander has been the subject of trade rumors for some time with teams including the Rangers showing interest at various points.

Now that they have Garza squared away, the Cubs still have to take care of James Russell and Jeff Samardzija. The Cubs and Samardzija were talking about a multi-year deal previously but are now said to be working on a one-year pact.

The Cubs announced that they have traded outfielder Tony Campana to the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league right-handed pitchers Erick Leal and Jesus Castillo. The Cubs designated Campana for assignment last week to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Scott Hairston.

Campana, 26, finished 2012 with a slash line of .264/.308/.299 in 192 plate appearances. The speedster also racked up 30 stolen bases last season, good for ninth in the National League. The Diamondbacks are already more than set in the outfield, so its not clear what kind of role they have in mind for Campana.

Venezuelans Leal and Castillo are both just 17-years-old and spent time with the D'Backs Dominical Summer League affiliate in 2012. Leal posted a 2.44 ERA with 9.0 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9 in 12 starts and two relief appearances. Meanwhile, Castillo had a 5.40 ERA with 7.9 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in eight starts and six games out of the bullpen.